WOW! I had no idea I would be so completely amazed and in awe by the beauty of the send-off. The sun had already set and sunset itself was kind of lacklustre, but when the music started, the deck filled with people, the deck hands started raising the sails and the Captain started commanding the ship, it was a magical, beautiful moment. It was then that I started to get excited about my big adventure. I was setting sail for one week, but in the bigger picture it was the beginning of three years of travelling the world and being nomadic. There had been too much stress leading up to the trip, that until I saw the sails of the ship I don’t think I really believed it was happening.
With the sails raised we started our slow sail through Venice, seeing St. Mark’s Square off one side of the ship and the Molino Stucky hotel off the right-hand side. With the sail-off anthem playing and the beauty of the lights and sails against the dark blue night sky, I got a little lost in my own little world.
Molino Stucky in Venice
The process probably takes about half an hour to 45 minutes and they do the sail-away ceremony every single night when you leave port. For me, it did not lose its charm. I watched every single night, even when it was cold and misty. Looking up up up as the sails come down, spread out and begin to catch the wind. Every night I spent 30 – 45 minutes lost in my own thoughts, amazed at the beauty and gentle power of the wind in the sails.
All Hands on Deck
A couple of nights I participated by helping the deckhands with the process, not that I feel I really did a lot, but I learned how to coil the rope properly and how to let the rope out slowly. I felt like it was an insignificant task, but yet there were six or ten different staff doing the exact same thing at different stations on the boat, so it couldn’t have been worthless. Sorry I made your job more difficult Shalesh from Goa, India! Glad you could at least have a laugh at me. (I admit, coiling rope shouldn’t be difficult, but somehow, it just wasn’t my thing!)
Shalesh showing me how to coil rope (making fun of me actually).
Even though the process is the same every night, the light is different and the port is different. Some nights departure is after dark and the sails are raised into the dark night sky full of stars, other nights they are raised just as the sun is setting. Each night with a beauty all its own.
Each night I noticed something new, found a new process to watch or just simply breathed in the calm energy and beauty of the sails lifting to the sky as we were lulled away to our next destination.
Royal Clipper Sail-Away from Venice
Meet the Captain
Most people congregated at the front of the ship (bow) where the Captain was commanding the ship and where passengers could take turns learning how to steer. Our Captain, Sergei greeted everyone with a smile and even played a couple of tunes on his guitar for us all one evening! What a different atmosphere from a large cruise ship where you only interact with the wait staff! The staff on the ship were wonderful, fun, friendly and accommodating. They came from all around the world and it was so interesting to get to know them. From all over Europe to India to Sri Lanka to St. Lucia & more.
Captain Sergei
Florentina steering the ship
Royal Clipper Ropes
Sunset from Slovenia
On our last sail-away from Porek, Slovenia the last tender back to the boat was at 6pm. We were set for sail-away at 6:30pm. I arrived back on that last tender as I had been on a tour of stunning Ljubljana, Slovenia and our tour had run late returning. I didn’t even go to my room when I returned, I went straight to the sun deck for send-off because it was golden hour and I just knew it was going to be beautiful.
When I arrived on deck, I went to the bow where there were surprisingly few passengers. Just one or two. I thought it was unusual, but convinced myself it was just early and people would come in a few minutes. Then the music started and deckhands were everywhere working away. I was busy snapping a few pictures and taking it all in, but felt like I had missed something because no one was on deck!
Slovenia at sunset
Porek, Slovenia at sunset
Just then, one of the deckhands said to me ‘Why are you here? Why aren’t you out on the tender?’ I said ‘What tender?’ He pointed to the tender that was already out in the water staring back at the beautiful Royal Clipper with sails being raised in the setting sun. A perfect moment and I was missing it. My heart sank instantly. Then he told me that there was another tender and hurried me along to go catch it. And I did just that. I arrived at the second tender just on time.
I suspect there had been announcements earlier during the day on board, but because I arrived on the last tender back, I had missed them.
As we moved away from the ship to a better vantage point on the tender, the beauty of the ship, the perfect sunset and the beautiful week I had enjoyed on board all culminated together for a fantastic memory.
I sat on the tender with 30 or so other passengers who were equally enamoured with the beauty. Our two staff members, the tender Captain and Shalesh (deckhand) did a great job taking us to all of the best vantage points to see the beautiful Royal Clipper as she started to sail away.
We were treated to the opportunity to sail along beside her, to see her with the sun shining on her and the sun setting behind her. I climbed all over the boat, standing on seats, poking my head out above the top and standing precariously on the edge to take a few photos. I think my jaw was open the entire time as I just could not even believe I was part of something so stunning.
Royal Clipper at Sunset
Royal Clipper at Sunset in Slovenia
Just when I thought it couldn’t get any better, we were taken to the bow of the ship in our tender where about 14 of our crew members walked to the very tip to give us a grand send-off with a bow and wave. An amazing end to a very memorable trip.
Royal Clipper send off wave
Exceptional Staff for the Win
The next day, I went back on deck to find the deckhand who had pointed me toward the tender, to say a huge thank you for telling me to go as I definitely would have regretted it if I hadn’t caught that second tender. Thanks to his extra care, I shared in one of the most beautiful moments of the entire trip. The sunset was beautiful and if it hadn’t been for the exceptional staff I would have missed it.
If you are interested in more information on Star Clippers and the beautiful ports I visited while I was on this seven-day Mediterranean Cruise, please feel free to contact us at info@lovethewayyoutravel.com.
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